The original everyday super car is refreshed and ready for action once more while building on the notion that fast cars needn’t be mercilessly bone crushing and sparsely equipped. The latest 2016 Audi R8 forms the tip of a new sub-brand, Audi Sport, which we’ll be hearing a lot more of in future. SA Car Fan was at Kyalami to drive the new 2016 model.
The thinking man’s super car however has gone a little more schizophrenic. Visually the carbon fibre-reinforced polymer and aluminium body appears leaner and slashes the air using a number of not-so-subtle vents and gills. An equally futuristic sidekick to Tony Stark, who would approve of the rear wing (Plus model), the pointy wing mirrors and contrasting colours that denote the extent of aerodynamic importance.
“The new Audi R8 V10 plus is the most powerful and fastest production Audi ever,” says Dr. Stefan Knirsch, Board Member for Technical Development. “Motorsport has always been a solid component of our brand character. With the new R8, our engineers are transferring their entire accumulated racing expertise from the race track to the road. It also lets us reinforce our core brand values of dynamism, design and quality.”
Audi is usually the first to punt the merits of small turbo charged engines but the V10 in the back of this Audi R8 turns that logic around. What Audi says about the R8 possessing faster throttle response and a saucy power curve is all very true – we just like it because the noise tries to peel the paint off a newly refurbished Kyalami. Fewer carbon emissions, cylinder on demand and a new coasting feature ensures the big bruiser is still a viable powerhouse.
Two versions are available but the more potent V10 Plus with the higher 449kW output is proving the most popular because besides the extra power, the kit includes a set of carbon ceramic brakes and glossy carbon trim. Reason Three: the V10 is tuned to the exact same state as the Lamborghini Huracan.
Aiming 449kW and 560Nm at the tar using Audi’s evolutionary quattro system means blistering 3.2 seconds 0-100km/h times with lead footed mindedness. The base model isn’t far behind with 397kW and 540Nm ensuring a sprint time 0.3 seconds behind the Plus model.
Altering the R8’s behavior are four driving modes ranging from Comfort to Individual. The Audi R8 V10 Plus model adds Dry, Snow and Wet modes into its sophisticated algorithms for ultimate traction management. Audi’s multi plate wet clutch at the front and mechanical limited slip differential at the rear is the latest installment of ‘slide the back out.’
The base Audi R8 is fitted with new seats contoured for long distance cruising and fast cornering but the V10 Plus model comes with lighter carbon-backed pews covered in Alcantara or Nappa leather. Practicality is excellent with 112 litres of luggage space in the car’s nose supplemented by 226 litres positioned behind the seats.
Audi’s ‘floating cockpit’ design is six parts familiar, four parts super car. Or the other way around, I’m yet to decide. Less unclear is the position of the vital buttons and the seamless transition of Audi’s quality into something shaped like a missile and piloted through Audi’s motorsport-inspired steering wheel (pity it’s not covered in grippy Alcantara). The wheel frames Audi’s virtual cockpit which suitably incorporates a lap timer and G-force readout.
The new Audi R8 is unquestionably fiercer than those earlier models and crosses that line into bona fide super car land, knocking out cars that are far more costly for reasons that despite our every effort, we can’t sensibly explain. Spare change? That’s for the upcoming Audi R8 Spyder.
Pricing: Audi R8 2016 models
R8 V10 5.2 FSI quattro S tronic – R2 630 500
R8 V10 plus 5.2 FSI quattro S tronic – R2 970 000
